Railroad-tie.



P. E. MILLER & D. O. VAN KIRK.

RAILROAD TIE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 21. I916.

Patented Apr. 4, 1916.

gvmawtom fflm 5Z6?" an I -I: mun-LIA PLANOGRAPH .C0., WASHINGTON, D. c.

nnrrn s'rarns arn l TEB 1.2. meter AND semen Q- VAN KIRK, or MINERAL I OHIO- RAILROAD-TIE Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 4', 1916.

Appl cati n filed F bruary .8 6- ssrial No. 7 .6 4-

To all whom it may concern Be it known that we, PETER E. MILLER and DANIEL O. VAN KIRK, citizens of the United States, residing at Mineral City, in the county of Tuscarawas and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Railroad-Ties; and we do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in track equipments, and has for its object to provide an improved tie upon which the rails may be eflectively and securel fastened.

A further object is to provide a device of this character which is provided with fastening means whereby the rails may be readily loosened to shift the same or otherwise adjust them.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention resides in the novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts which will hereinafter be more particularly described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawing: Figure 1 represents a side elevation of one of our improved ties showing a pair of rails thereon, one end being in section; Fig. 2 is a plan view, the tie and rail clip being removed from one end; Fig. 3 is a vertical transverse section taken on the line 33 of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a detail perspective view of one of the locking clips removed.

In its preferred embodiment, this invention comprises a tie 1 upon which the rails R are secured, said tie being formed of cast iron or steel, either solid or hollow as desired, or it may be constructed of reinforced concrete or the like. The top of the tie 1 is provided with seats 2 to receive the base flanges F of the rails B, one end of said seats being provided with undercut shoulders 3 to limit the movement of the rails in one direction, the opposite sides of the flanges of the rails being secured by improved clips which will hereinafter be described.

As shown in the several figures of the drawing, the seats 2 are considerably wider than the base flanges F of the rails. This arrangement permits the rails R to be readily positioned on the tie and permits an inverted U-shaped spring clip 4 to be applied on the opposite side of the rail from the shoulder 3 and thus effectively clamp the rail to the tie. The opposite sides of the tie 1 are provided with vertical grooves 5 which receive the legs 6 of the clips &. Said legs have a spring action and tend to move to ward each other when removed from the tie, and thus they will tightly grip said tie and be held thereon. The tops" of the U-shaped clips 4: have lips 7 formed thereon and adapted to overlie the base flanges F of the rails R when the same are applied, thereby holding the rails between the same and the undercut shoulders 3.

In order to more securely hold the clips in operative position their legs 6 are apertured as is also the tie 1, said apertures in the tie being formed in the grooves 5 and receive the bolts 8 which extend therethrough and through the legs 6, nuts 9 being disposed on the ends of said bolts to securely hold the same in place. WVhen it is desired to release the clips 4, the bolts 8 are removed, and a suitable instrument inserted in the depressions or recesses 10 which are formed in the top of the tie and communicate with the seats 2, said recesses being lower than the under side of the tops of the clips 4 so that the tool can be readily inserted therebeneath.

From the preceding description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, it will be seen that we have produced a very simply constructed tie which can be inexpensively manufactured and which will last practically indefinitely, and is provided with very simple means for securely holding the rails thereon.

It is obvious that various minor changes may be made in the form and proportion of the several parts of the device without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the principle of the invention.

e claim:

1. In a device of the class described, a tie member having seats in the top thereof to receive the bases of a pair of rails, vertical grooves in the sides of the member adjacent the flanges of the rail, resilient inverted U-shaped clips having their legs disposed in said grooves, the tops resting on said seats, said legs being adapted to grip the sides of the member, and lips extending from the tops of said clips and overlying the bases of said rails to hold the same in place.

2. In a device of the class described, a tie member having seats in the top thereof to receive the bases of a pair of rails, shoulders formed by the seats, the edges of said bases abutting the same, vertical grooves in the sides of the member adjacent the flanges of the rails, resilient inverted U-shaped clips having their legs disposed in said grooves, the tops resting in said seats,

said legs being adapted to grip the sides of the member, and lips extending from the tops of said clips and overlying the bases of the rails to hold the same in place, the top of said member having recesses formed therein adjacent the top of each clip, whereby the same may be removed to allow the rails to be moved.

3. In a device of the class described, a tie member having seats in the top thereof to receive the bases of a pair of rails, undercut shoulders formed by the seats, the edges of the rails abutting the same, vertical grooves in the sides of the member adjacent the bases of the rails and communieating with said seats, said member having Copies of this patent may be obtained for transversely extending apertures opening in said grooves, inverted U-shaped clips having their legs disposed in said grooves, the tops resting in said seats, said legs having apertures alined with said apertures in the member, lips extending from the tops of said clips and overlying the bases of the rails to hold the same in place, and bolts extending through said alined apertures to secure the clips to the member, the top of said member having recesses formed therein adjacent the tops 01": the clips and extending below the lower face of the same, whereby said clips may be readily removed to allow the rails to be moved.

In testimony whereof We have hereunto set our hands in presence of two subscribing Mrs. H. B. PRICE, W. M. TRACY.

five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

